Sulphonated aromatic ether alcohols



lilatented Dec. 26, 1939 I i I SULlI-IONATED AROMATIC ETHER I ALCOHOLS Herman A. Bruson. and Clinton W. MacMullen, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Riihm & Haas Company, Philadelphia, Pa.

No Drawing. Application January 10, 1939, Serial No. 250,166

' 13 Claims. (01. 260-512) This invention relates to a process for preparare accelerators of mercerization. When A is an ing aromatic ether alcohols of the general foraliphatic hydrocarbon or acyl group having from 1 mula RO--X"OH wherein R isa sulphonated 12 to about 26 carbon atoms, the products are aromatic nucleus and X is an alkylene or polypowerful softening agents for textiles, such as alkylene ether radical having atleast 2 carbon cotton, rayon and wool, in contrast to the sulpho- 5 I atoms in each alsylene group. nated sulphates from which they are derived,

This application is a continuation in part of and which are already described in part in apcopending application Serial No. 133,826, filedv plicants U. S. Patent No. 2,106,716. The primary Y March 30,1937. aliphatic and, to a less extent, the secondary 1 According to this invention, aromatic ether alaliphatic hydrocarbon or acyl groups are especcohols R'OX-OH are; treated with a, sulially effective in their softening action. phonating agent, whereby the aromatic nucleus Typi l aromatic ether 8110011015 which will becomes sulphonated' and the terminal aliphatic serve as starting materials include p-ter. butyl hydroxyl group simultaneously is converted to a phenoxyet y fl D- octyl D Y- sulphuric acid ester. The sulphonation may be ethanol, 0- or p-sec. octyl phenoxyethanol, p-ter.

carried out with concentrated or fuming sulphuric dodecyl phenoxyethanol, 0- or p-n-dodecyl phenacid, sulphur trioxide, chlorosulphonic acid, or Xyethano O p-n-hexadecyl p xyethanol, other suitable sulphonating agent. Throughout 0- or p-n-octadecyl phenoxyethanol, 0- or p-nthe process the ether linkages unexpectedly reo decenyl ph n xy h nol, ter. buty -fl-n p main intact instead of splitting and thereby disthoxyethanol, ter. octyl-,S-naphthoxyethanol, p- 0 rupting the molecule. The product obtained ter. octyl phenoxypropanol-l, p-ter. octyl phen- RO-X--OSO3H is subjected to mild acid hyoxybutanol-l, p-cyclohexyl phenoxyethanol, pdrolysis as, for example, by boiling it in dilute methyl cyclohexyl phenoxyethanol, p-octyl cyacidic aqueous solution, which operation splits clohexyl phenoxyethanol, por o-bornyl phenoil the sulphuric ester group without affecting the oxyethanol, por o-terpenyl phenoxyethanol, p-, 25

aromatic sulphonic acid group. The reaction can mor o-naphthenyl phenoxyethanol, 0- or p-nbe represented as follows: butyryl phenoxyethanol, por o-sec. amyl phenoxyethanol, 0- or p-sec. octanoyl phenoxyethanol,

0- or p-n-dodecanoyl phenoxyethanol, cor p-n- I s03? octadecanoyl phenoxyethanol, por o-benzoyl 30 l3'0X-0-so3l +i-l,0 R'- oX-0H+H=sol' phenoxyethanol, 0- or p-naphthenoyl phenoxyethanol, p-ter. octyl phenoxyethoxyethanol, p-

soul Y o n i s a ter. octyl phenoxyethoxyethoxy ethanol, p-ter. mute octyl phenoxyethoxyethoxy ethoxyethanol, 0- or wherein R is an aromatic nucleus. p-n-octadecyl phenoxyethoxyethanol. 35

The final reaction mixture may be neutralized These startin te als are converted to the in the usual manner-with inorganic or organic sulphate sulphonates which are then heated in bases to give the correspondingsalts of the alaqueous acidic solution until hydrolysis of the coholicethersulphonic acid, Forthis purpose amsulphuric ester group occurs. .Typical resulting 0 monium hydroxide, an organic base such as trieco pounds are: 4o

thanolamine, or the common alkali hydroxides or I carbonates, such as those of sodium or potassium,.

are quite suitable. I 5 1 The products obtained are useful as wetting, olH.R'0cHlCH1-0oHlcHzOH penetrating, emulsifying, dispersing, cleansing or 45 finishing agents for textiles. On'account of the tion to the ether groups they give, in many cases, s 03M certain unique results-when. applied to textiles. I

For example, the compounds 01 the formula I 50 A-R(OCH2CH2)nOH wherein n is 1 to 4 in- $03M elusive, Ris a sulphonated phenyl nucleus, and A wherein as above, represents a r ma-tie is an aliphatic hydrocarbon orcarboxylic acyl nucleus and M 'eD S y OE 0 a group having upto about twelve carbon atoms, forming cation.

or wherein A is an .aralkyl or alicyclic group The following examples illustrate the processv 55 Ior prepaiflnlhulphonated aromatic ether alcohols. i I

- Example 1 p a,a,7, y Tetramethylbutyl phenoxyethanol was prepared by the condensation of diisobutylene 'with phenol and reaction of the resulting alkyl phenol with ethylene chlorohydrin in the presence of caustic soda. B. P 142-157 C /2 mm.

3 om- JE-b'HEe-Oo cnioniou CH3 pH:

1 5 (l g .of98% sulphuric acid was added with stir- "rir'igir the course of one hour to g. of pa,d, ,v-tetramethylbutyl phenoxyethanol, allowing the temperature to rise to" 60 C. The dark red mixture was then stirred two hours.

500 cc. of waterwas added, and the mixture warmed two hours' bn the steam bath with stirring to hydrolyze the sulphuric acid ester group to an hydroxyl group.

The dark brown eblution was cooled to room temperature and heiitralized by the addition of obtained in aqueous solution in the filtrate.

Example 2 128 g. chlorosulphonic acid was added to 125 g.

I of p-izfi yn-tetramethylbutyl phenoxyethanol dropwise, with stirring, in the course of one hour. During the addition the mixture was cooled below 20 C. Hydrogen chloride was given oil. The mixture was stirredone hour at20-30 C. and allowed to stand overnight. 500 cc. of water was. added 'and the mixture heated two hours on the steam bath to hydrolyze the sulphuric acid ester group. The clear, dark brown solution was cooled and neutralized by the addition of solid sodium hydroxide. A portion of the neutral solution was dried invacuo at 50-'73 C./ 50-10 mm. for six hours. A pink, dry powder was obtained, which was readily soluble in water.

The remainder of the neutral solution was cooled at 0-10 C. overnight, and the gelatinous mass filtered, leaving a white crystalline residue. The clear, amber red filtrate contained p-d,d,- tetramethylbutyl phenoxyethanol sodium sulphonate in aqueous solution.

Example 3 Diisobutyl-,8-naphthoxyethanol was prepared by the condensation of diisobutylene with 13- naphthol, and reaction of the resulting alkyl naphthol with ethylene chlorohydrin in the presence of sodium hydroxide.

CsHn W VV n. P. 212 to 222 045 mm.

g. of 98% sulphuric acid was added dropwise with stirring to 150 g. of melted diisobutyl naphthoxyethanol, allowing the temperature ,to

rise to 60 C. The viscous, dark mixture was stirred two hours.

500 cc. of water was added and the mixture heated two hours on the steam bath. The solution was cooled and neutralized with solid sodium hydroxide. The neutral red solution was cooled at, 0 to 10 C. overnight and filtered'from the crystalline residue. The filtrate contained 1 diisobutyl naphthoxyethanol sodium sulphonate in aqueous solution.

Example 4 p-Cyclohexyl phenoxyethanol was prepared by 150 g. of 98% sulphuric acid was added drop- Wise, with stirring, to 110 g. of melted p-cyclohexyl phenoxyethanol, allowing the temperature to rise to 60 C. The mixture was stirred two hours, 500 cc. of water added, and the mixture heated for two more hours on the steam bath.

The solution was cooled and neutralized with sodium hydroxide solution. The neutral solution was cooled at 0 to 10 C. overnight and filtered from the white, pasty residue. The residue was extracted with ethanol and filtered from insoluble sodium sulphate. After the extract was cooled, sodium p-cyclohexyl phenoxyethanol sulphonate crystallized, out as colorless, white needles.

Example 5 p-d,d,' -Tetramethylbutyl phenoxyethoxy ethanol was prepared by alkaline condensation of p-a,d, -tetramethylbutyl phenol with e;e'-dichlorodiethyl ether, conversion of the p-a,a,'y,'y-

tetramethylbutyl phenoxyethoxy ethyl chloride (B. P. to 205 C./3 mm.) to the acetate with potassium acetate, and saponification of the acetate (B. P. 181-210 C./2 mm.) to the alcohol, P. B. 170-192" C./2 mm.

150 g. of 98% sulphuric acid was added dropwise, with stirring, to 147 g. of p-d,d,' -tetramethylbutyl phenoxyethoxy ethanol, allowing the temperature to rise to 60 C. The red-brown mixture was stirred two hours, 500 cc. of water p-d,d, -Tetramethylbutyl phenoxyethoxy ethoxy ethanol was prepared by the alkaline condensation .of p-a,a,' -tetramethylbutyl phenol with fi-chloroethoxyp'-chlorodiethyl ether. conversion oi. the resulting p-d,d, -tetramethylbutyl phenoxyethoxyethoxy ethyl chloride (B. P. 200 to 220 C./3 mm.) to the acetate (B. P. to 215 C./2 mm.), and saponification of the acetate to the alcohol; B. P. to 217 C./2 mm.

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150 g. of 98% sulphuric acid was added drop- -of sodium sulphate.

2,184,985 1 wise, with stirring to 169 g. of p-a,e,-y,-y tetra methylbutyl phenoxyethoxyethoxy ethanol, ,al-

lowing thetemperature to rise to 60 C. The dark brown, yiscous mass was stirred two. hours, 500 cc. of water added, and the mixture heated on thesteam bath two hours.

The solution was cooled, neutralized with solid sodiumhydroxide, cooled at 0 to 10 C. overnight. and filtered. p-a,a,v,' -tetramethylbutyl phenoxyethoxyethoxy ethanol sodium sulphonate was obtained as an aqueous solutionin the filtrate.

Example 7 31 g. of lauryl phenoxyethanol (B. P. 200 to 220 C./4 mm.) was sulphonated by adding 30 g. of 98% sulphuric acid dropwise during about 15 minutes, and holding the temperature at about 60 C. for six hours.

100 g. of. water was added and the solution heated'one hour on the steam bath to hydrolyze the sulphuric ester group to an hydroxyl group.

The turbid solution was neutralized by the addition of caustic soda, and the concentrated solution separated'into two layers after cooling. The lower aqueous salt layer was discarded, and the viscous upper soap layer filtered to give a concentrated solution of lauryl phenoxyethanol sodium sulphonate S O3NB Example 9 73 g. of octadecylphenoxyethanol was stirred and sulphonated by allowing 60 g. of 98% suiphuric acid to run in dropwise at such a rate that the temperature rose to 60 C. The clear, red oil was stirred and heated atapproximately 60 C. for six hours longer.

200 g. of water was added andthe pink solution warmed one hour on the steam bath to hydrolyze the sulphuric acid ester group to an hydroxyl group.

The turbid solution was neutralized with 25% of sodium hydroxide solution. 70 cc. ot isopropanol was added to the viscous solution. The neutral solution was cooled in the icebox overnight and filtered to renfove the insoluble residue Octadecyl phenoxyethanol sodium sulphonate was obtained in the form of a clear, yellow solution Example" 16 ""-.g.-of oleyl -o-n'iethyl phenoxyethanol was sulphonated by adding 60 g. of 98% sulphuric acid dropwise and maintaining the. temperature at about 60 C. for seven hours while the mixture was stirred.

200 g.- of water was added to the dark brown oil, and the mixture stirred and heated one hour on the steam bath. 70 g. ofisopropanol was added and the solution neutralized with solid sodium hydroxide The neutral solution wascooled overnight and filtered.

The filtrate consisted of two layers. The upper layer was a clear, darlg brown solution containing oleyl-o-methyl phenoxyethanol sodium sulphonate vCH3

some The oleyl-o-methyl phenoxyethanol was prepared by condensing ethylene chlorohydrin with oleyl-o-cresol. Oieyl phenol may likewise be used as the starting material to produce ogmro uro-ouzomon S0311 v In a similar manner, caproylphenoxyethanol and homologues thereof can be sulphonated in the aromatic ring and sulphated on the aliphatic hydroxyl group. 'The sulphuric acid ester is then hydrolyzed in acidic aqueous solution, by boiling as described above, to regenerate the hydroxyl 45 group to yield products of the type wherein R is a sulphonated aromatic nucleus.

Measurements of properties and practlcal'tests have demonstrated that the introduction of a carbonyl group between a hydrocarbon substituent and the aromatic ring in these compounds does not appreciably change the essential properties of the sulphonated aryl 'etheralcohols from those shown by compounds carrying and uninterrupted hydrocarbon chain.

It is understood that R or R can be any aromatic nucleus of the benzene, naphthalene, diphenyl, anthracene, phenanthrene, or higher condenser polynuclear ring system, and that they may contain nuclear inert substituents, for example, halogen, hydrocarbon, acyl, carboxyl, nitro, alkoxy, aryloxy, or other groups.

We claim:

1. A process for preparing a sulphonated-aromatic ether alcohol of the general formula R-O-X-OH wherein R is a sulphonated aromatic nucleus and X is a member of the group consisting of alkylene and polyalkylene ether 70 aromatic nucleus and to form a sulphuric ester group, and subsequently heating the product in wherein R is a sulphonated aromatic nucleus and X is a member of the group consisting of alkylene and polyalkylene ether radicals having at least two carbon atoms in each alkylene group, which comprises'heating a compound of the formula R-OXOSO3H in aqueous, acidic solution until hydrolysis of the sulphuric ester group occurs.

3. A process for preparing a sulphonated aromatic ether alcohol of the general formula R--- O--CH2CH2)nOH wherein is a sulphonated aromatic nucleus and n is 1 to 4 inclusive, which comprises heating a compound of the formula R-(OCH2CH2) nO-SO3H in aqueous, acidic solution until hydrolysis of the sulphuric ester group occurs.

4. A process for preparing a sulphonated aromatic ether alcohol of the general formula AR-OX-OH wherein A represents a member of the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbon, alicyclic hydrocarbon, aralkyl, and car boxylic acyl radicals and X represents a member of the group consisting of alkylene and polyalkylene ether radicals having at least two carbonatoms in each alkylene group, which comprises heating a compound of the formula AR-O-X-OSO3H in aqueous, acidic solution until hydrolysis of the sulphuric ester group occurs.

5. A process for preparing a sulphonated aromatic ether alcohol of the general formula A-Rr-OX'OH wherein A represents a primary aliphatic hydrocarbon group, R represents a sulphonated aromatic nucleus and X is a member of the group consisting of alkylene and polyalkylene ether radicals havingat least two carbon atoms in each alkylene group, which comprises heating a compound of the formula A-ROXOSO3H in aqueous, acidic solution until hydrolysis of the sulphuric ester group occurs.

6. A process for preparing a sulphonated aromatic ether alcohol of the general formula A-RO-XOH wherein A represents a primary aliphatic hydrocarbon group, R represents a sulphonated phenyl nucleus, and X represents a member of the group consisting of alkylene and polyalkylene ether radicals having at least two carbon atoms in each alkylene group, which comprises heating a compound of the formula A--ROX-O-.SO:H in aqueous, acidic solution until hydrolysis of the sulphuric ester group occurs. a

7. A sulphonated aromatic ether alcohol having the formula A-R-O--X-OH wherein R is a sulphonated aromatic nucleus, A is a substituent selected from the class consisting of primary and secondary aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, alicyclic hydrocarbon groups, aralkyl groups, and

carboxylic acyl groups of at least four carbon atoms and X is one of the group consisting of alkylene and polyalkylene ether radicals having at least two carbon atoms in each alkylene group.

8. A sulphonated aromatic ether alcohol having the formula A-ROXOH wherein R is a sulphonated phenyl nucleus, A is a primary aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of at least four carbon atoms, and X is one of the group con sisting of alkylene and polyalkylene ether radicals having at least two carbon atoms 'in each 7 alkylene group.

9. A sulphonated aromatic ether alcohol having the formula A-R-(O-C2H4) nGH wherein R is a sulphonated aromatic nucleus, A is a member of the groupconsisting of primary and secondary aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals, alicyclic hydrocarbon radicals, aralkyl radicals and carboxylic acyl radicals of at least four carbon atoms, and n is an integer from l to 4 inclusive.

10. A sulphonated aromatic ether alcohol hav- 

